Temperature control mechanism



J. H. MURcH ET AL. 2,205,429 TIPERATURE CONTROL MECHANISM .1. H. MURQH Er A1. 2,205,429 TEMPERATURE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /52 /13 /fr www H/ENTORS Patented June 25, 194() PATENT] orrics TEMPERATURE CONTROL MECHANISM John H. March, East orange, and William Peony, Elizabeth, N. J., assignors to American Can Company,V New York, N.

New Jersey ,Y., a corporation of Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,488

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a temperature control mechanism for heat treating-machines and has particular reference to super-sensitive devices which operate in conjunction with pyrometer-galvanometer temperature registering instruments and which control the application of heat to the machine so that the temperature will be held within very small limits and at a desired predetermined set level.

In recentk years improved methods of heat treating have been devised and these require a much closer control of temperature changes than that called for in older methods. One such imu proved heat treating method may be mentioned by way of example, which requires extreme sensitivity of control, this having to do with flash sterilization of milk. Complete sterilization is eiected by high temperatures in from one to three minutes where previous methods required much longer time at much lower temperatures. In this flash method of heat treatment, the high sterilizing temperature required is dangerously near the scorching or burning temperature of the milk and for best results effective control of the temperature is necessary.

Itis therefore an object of the present invention to provide a temperature control mechanism which includes, rst a pyrometer and galvanometer in circuit for gauging and registering by deilection of the galvanometer needle very7 small temperature changes occurring in a heat treating machine and second super-sensitive control devices a part or members of which detect the magnitude and direction of the galvanometer needle deiiection and other parts or control' elements whichl are brought into operation'by such detection which regulate the application of heat to the machine and which maintain the latterat a temperature which will not vary more thanone half of one degree.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such temperature control devices which detect the deflection of the galvanometer needle at frequent regular time intervals vin order to determine and correct temperature changes or iluctuations of smaller magnitude than the small limits within which the ultimate temperature is required to be held.

Still another object is the provision of temmade.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the upper part of a milk sterilizing and can filling machine equipped with a temperature' control mechanism embodying the instant invention, the View show'- ing a can in lling position with the can in section, parts of the machine being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the tempera-ture control mechanism shown at the upper left in Fig. l, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section takensubstantially along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2 the View vshowing the location of a galvariometer needle and a cooperating detector element for detecting the needles position;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are end views of the upper part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2 with a portion of the outside casing wall broken away, Figs. 4 and 5 showing the galvanometer needle at one extremity of its path of travel and show'- ing the detector element in two of its positions, prior to and after engagement with the needle, while Fig. 6 shows the needle at its opposite extreme position with the detector element in detecting engagement therewith;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are side views of the part of the mechanism illustrated at the upper left in Fig. 1, the views showing the movable elements in positions corresponding with the positions of the galvanometer needle and detector element shown in the respective Figs. 4, 5 and 6;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line Ill-ID in Fig. '7;

Fig'. l1 is a part elevation, part sectional detail as viewed substantially along the inclined line lI-Ii in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuits utilized in the control mechanism.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the vpresent invention which for the purposes of this specification is preferably applied to a milk sterilizing and filling machine in which milk is sterilized bypassing it through a suitable chamber 'A (Fig. l) which is heated by steam under pressure to a predetermined st'erilizing temperature. The sterilized milk is filled into cans which may be closed in anyv suitable manner.

In such a machine best sterilizing results are' the pressure valve as the case may be.

maintained substantially constant so that it does not fluctuate at most more than one-half degree. To maintain this temperature the pressure of the steam entering the sterilizing chamber is automatically controlled by a heat regulator or pressure regulator valve B (Fig. 1) which is opened and closed by electric means which include a reversible electric motor C to increase or reduce the steam pressure in accordance with slight fluctuations of the sterilizing temperature.

To this end thermo-electric instrumentalities are utilized which include alipyrometer D provided for gauging the temperature of the sterilizing chamber. The pyrometer is connected in circuit with a suitable galvanometer E (schematically shown in Fig. 12) which by deflection of its needle indicates a temperature change in the milk or in the sterilizing chamber and indicates by this mechanical movement whether the temperature is above or below the desired predetermined sterilizing temperature.

To insure that temperature changes do not exceed a predetermined setting of less than one half degree, the deection of the galvanometer needle is preferably detected at regular time intervals of two or three seconds. This detection is effected by a cam actuated super-sensitive control device F (Fig. 1) which establishes suitable electric circuits some of the circuits including the electric motor C that in turn operates the steam pressure valve B. Electric energy from a suitable source of power is thus caused to flow through the motor in the proper direction so that it will rotate the latter to partially open or close After such an adjustment of the pressure valve, electric elements included in some of the circuits operate to prevent further actuation of the motor until the adjustment has had time to become effective on the sterilizing temperature.

In this manner slight changes within such small ranges as one halfvdegree or less in the sterilizing temperature effect quick and positive partial or complete opening or closing of the steam pressure valve. Such radjustment of the valve regulates the steam pressure in the chamber to maintain the sterilizing temperature substantially constant.

The milk sterilizing chamber A of the machine shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is` housed in a vertical tubular casing 2| which is mounted on a main frame 22 of the machine. At its upper and lower ends the casing isformed with flanges 23, 24 to which head caps 25, 2B are bolted to completely seal off the chamber. It is this chamber through which milk is passed and heated by steam under pressure to a sterilizing temperature. y

Milk to be sterilized enters the chamber by way of a horizontal supply pipe 3| the discharge end of which is threaded into the edge of the upper flange 23 of the easing 2| and the pipe in this way communicates with the sterilizing chamber. The milk when sterilized is discharged from the bottom of the chamber by way of a port 32, a central cylindrical recess 33, a vertical bore 34, and a milk discharge tube 35 which is carried in the lower end .of the bore 34.

Discharge of the sterilized 'milk from the tube 35 is effected by a poppet valve 36 located in the recess 33 and which is adapted to be opened and closed by vertical movement. The Valve when y closed seats against a valve seat 31 formed in Within the recess. Opening of the valve is effected bya lifting stem 39 formed integrally with the valve and which extends down through the discharge tube 35 and projects from the lower end thereof.

A can a to be lled with the sterilized milk is positioned under the discharge tube 35 on a lifter pad 42 which is raised by any suitable means actuated in time with the other moving parts of the machine. Raising of the pad and the can carried thereon causes the can bottom to engage against the lower end of the valve stem 39 and thus lift the Valve 36 against the resist` ance of the spring 38. This lifting of the valve permits milk to flow through the port 32, recess 33, bore 34 and discharge tube 35 into the can. When the can is lled lowering of the lifter pad causes the spring 38 to close the valve.-

To prevent the milk from scorching or burning when the discharge valve 36 is closed as between fllling of the cans the milk is continuously circulated through the sterilizing chamber. This circulation is maintained by a by-pass pipe 45, one end of which is threaded into the lower head cap 26.' This end of the pipe communicates with a passageway 46 which is formed in the head cap and which leads into the central recess 33. The opposite end of the pipe communicates with the source of milk. Hence milk not iilled into cans flows through the passageway 46 and pipe 45 back to its source to be again passed through the chamber. The quantity of milk thus by-passed is vquite negligible, however, because the cans to be filled move rapidly in a continuous procession under the discharge valve and hence the time between llings is Yvery short.

The steam for sterilizing the milk is introduced into the chamber A from any suitable source of supply as 'by way of a pipe line 5|. The discharge end of this pipe is threaded into the side of casing `2| near its bottom lflange 24. The steam-circulates` through the chamber, separated from the milk in any suitable manner, and is carried oi by an outlet pipe 52 one end of `which is threaded into the upper end of the casing ad"v jacent its flange 23. Condensate caused vby cooling of the steam in the heating element containing steam supplied by the pipe is disn charged through a drain pipe 53 having one end` threaded into the steam pipe.

The pressure regulator valve B which controls the steam pressure in the sterilizing chamber is connected into thesupply pipe line 5| and is bolted' to the main frame 22 of the machine. Adjacent this valve, the reversible electric motor C which opens and Acloses the valve is 4bolted to the same main frame. The motor and the valve are geared together by a driving pinion 57 which is carried on the motor drive shaft 58 and a meshing gear 59 mounted on the stem (marked 6|) of the regulator valve. Rotation of the motor in one direction opens the valve to increase the steam pressure in the sterilizing chamber and vice versa when the motor rotates in the opposite direction the valve is closed to reduce the steam pressure. n

Rotation of the motor in either direction is limited to a single revolution and to insure the proper timing the motor shaft 58 carries a sleeve G2 which is formed with cam projections 63, 64. These projections operate stop switches associated with the electric circuits of the wiring diagram of Fig. 12.

Rotation of the motor C is controlled by the establishment of suitable electric circuits which are completed by a main control electric switch and its auxiliary electric switches which form a part of the super-sensitive control device F and which are mechanically closed when the sterilizing temperature in the chamber rises above or falls below that desired. These switches and circuits will be described hereinafter in connection with the wiring diagram shown in Fig, 12.

Fluctuation of the sterilizing temperature is gauged, or measured and is indicated by a standard commercial thermoelectric pyrometer-g-alvanometer unit diagrammatically illustrated at the right in Fig. 12 and which constitutes the pyrometer D and the galvanorneter E hereinbefore mentioned. The construction and operation of such a unit is well known in the art of gauging temperatures in heat treating machines and therefore an extended description isdeemed unnecessary.

The pyrometer D consists of 'the usual hot and cold terminals which comprise the usual pairs of dissimilar metallic wires connected together to form the junctions. The hot terminal is disposed in the central milk recess 33 of the casing 2| and directly contacts the milk. The cold terminal is located at any convenient place outside the casing 2| and is maintained at a constant temperature below that of the milk.

The lgalvanometer E is connected in circuit in the usual manner with the -pyrometer D and is located in a covered housing 8| which carries the control devices F. This housing is supported on the main frame 22 (Fig. l) and is formed with suitable bearings for the galvanometerV rotor shaft indicated by the numeral 18. carries the galvanometer needle (marked 19).

Periodically within regular time intervals of a few seconds a test is made to detect the position of the galvanometer needle 19 so that any fluctuation in the sterilizing temperature may be immediately ascertained. This is effected by the control device F which is provided with members actuated in time with the other moving parts of the machine and these will now be described.

The position of the -galvanometer needle is detected by a detector plate 88 (Figs. 2,y 3, 4, 5,

6 and l0) formed on one end ofan arm 93y mounted on a horizontal rock shaft 94 carried in suitable bearings in the sides of the control housing 3|. to move the detector plate vertically into engagement with the free end of the horizontally swung galvanometer needle. To prevent distortion of the needle during this detecting operation, its forward end is disposed in a horizontal slot 89 formed in a backing-up plate 9| which is bolted to the bottom of the cover of the control housing The detector plate 88 is formed with a set of three ascending needle engaging steps as clearlyA shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6. When the sterilizing temperature falls below the predetermined kdegree the deflection of the needle will align it with and it will be engaged by the low step as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and l0. When the temperature is above the predetermined degree .the deflected needle will align with and be engaged by lthe high step (Fig. 6) and when no change of temperature takes place the needle willv align with and be engaged by the middle step (Fig. 2')

Thus the deflection of the needle is indicated by the particular step with which it aligns. This deflection or rather position of the needle limits the travel of the Idetector plate which is moved a different vertical distance for each step. This is This shaft The shaft is adapted to be rocked i used ait-'very small intervals of time to control'the sterilizing temperature.- 1 f Rocking of the rockl shaft A9|! to move the detector plate 88 into needle engaging position is effected by an edge cam 96 which ismounted on a cam shaft 91 journaled in suitable bearings formed in the housing 8|. The cam shaft is continuously rotated in time with 'the other moving parts of the machine in any suitable manner. Movement of the cam 96 is imparted to the rock shaft through a cam arm 98 and an indicator arm 09 which are yieldingly associated and at times are moved in unison. One end of the cam arm 98is mounted on a pivot pin |0| which is carried in a suitable boss formed on the outside of the housing 8| while the free end of the arm carries a roller |02 which engages against the cam edge.

The indicator arm 99 is disposed adjacent the cam arm 98 on the outside of the housing 8| and is secured at one end-to an end of the rock shaft 94 which extends through the side of the housing. The free end of the indicator arm is yieldingly held between two flat springs |03, |04,` ends of which engage against opposite sides of the arm. The opposite end of the spring .|03 is secured to the cam arm 98. This spring tends to push the cam arm away from the indicator arm with the result that thev roller |02 is kept in` engagement with the cam 96. The opposite end of the other spring |04 is secured by a pin |05 to the side of the housing 3| the spring intermediate its ends engaging against a stationary post |06. This post bows the spring and holds it against the indicator arm.

Thus through the medium of `these springsthe indicator arm 99 and the cam arm 98 are moved in unison under the influence of the cam 96 or are yieldably shifte-d relative to each other. The full movement ofthe cam arm is more than the 'throw of the indicator arm, which throw it will contact electric switch |5 (Figs. l, 7, 8, 9 and '10)' which is secured to the side of the housing 8l adjacent the indicator arm 99. The switch is provided with a horizontally disposed movable,y

element ||1 which is a fiat spring having aty one end a contact ||8 which extends between upper and lower spaced switch contacts |2|, |22 of the switch ||5.

Thespring I |1 is secured to a movable selector pawl|23 which is normally held against movement by cam action which will be hereinafter described. The movable'selector is periodically released by such cam action to set the switch ||5 in accordancewith the position of the indicator arm 99. AThe pawl is disposed adjacent the vindicator arm 99 and is mounted on a pivot pin |24 carried in the side of the housing 8|. `The free end of the pawl overlaps the indicator arm and is formed with a curved cam edgel |25 which extends into a shouldered notch |21 which is cut into the outer edgeof the indicator arm as shown in Fig. l1.

When released toset the switch to correspond with the position of the indicator arm, the selector pawl |23 rocks on its pivot pin |24' until its cam edge |25 engages the shoulder of the fro indicator arm notch |21. Byv reason of the cam shape this rocking movement is greater or less for fthe pawl is effected by a ,coil` spring |28 one end o f which is hooked over a pin secured in the pawl. v'Il-he opposite end of the spring is hooked overa .pin carried in the side ofthe housing 8|. o

`Different positions of `the pawl |23 locate the contact H8 of the movable switch element ||1 into engagement with either of the switch contacts |2|, |22 or into a non-engaging and intermediate position. This establishes-or breaks certain electric circuits which control the operation of the motor C associated with the steam regulator valve B.

The working position of the movable switch element ||1 thus depends upon how far the selector pawl |23 is rocked by the spring |28. Movement of the pawl is thus limited by the position of the indicator arm 99 as located when the galvanometer needle deflection is detected as `hereinbefore described. In other words as the sterilizing temperature rises above or falls below the predetermined degree, the indicator arm is set -nearer to or further away from the selector pawl. Y

The cam edge |25 of the pawl |23is normally held away from the shoulder of the notch |21 .to permit free movement of the indicator arm S9 while it is being located to indicate the defiection of the galvanometer needle. This holding of the pawl is cam controlled as previously suggested and is effected by a lever |32 which is mounted on a pivot pin |33 carried in the side vof' the housing 8|. k j

The lever has a curved arm |34 the free end of which engages against a pin |35 carried in the pawl |23 and when so engaged holds the cam edge |25 spaced above the shoulder of the indicator arm notch l|21 andagainst the resistance of the pawl spring |28. In this position of the pawl the movable vswitch contact i8 is held .against the upper contact |2| of the switch H5. No completed circuit is established at this time, however, because of a normally open mercury switch which isused in the circuit to prop- The lever |32 is provided with an arm |36A which is connected to one end of a link |31. At its opposite end the link |31 is connected to a cam arm |38. The cam arm |38 is carried on a pivot pin |39 secured in the side of the housing '84. This arm extends under and engages against a selector edge cam |42 which is mounted adjacent the detector cam 3S on the continuousl rotated cam shaft 91.

The arm is urged against the cam vsurface by Va coil spring |43. One lend of the springis hooked into a hole in the arm while the other end is hooked over a pin carried in the housing '8L This constitutes the cam control of' the pawl |23 and rotation of the cam |42 pivots the cam arm |38 and hence moves the link |31 and curved arm |34 `to release the pawl |23 at the proper time to set the contacts of the main control switch ||5.

kSetting of the contacts of the main control .switch I5 isfollowed by the closing of 'a mercury timing switch |45 hereinbefore briefly mentioned -and which is carried in a horizontal position on the cam arm 38. The mercury switch is of a well known type comprising a glass tube closed at ,both ends and containing a globuleof mercury free to move, with theinclinations of arm |33, into and out of engagement with a pair of spaced contacts disposed in one end of the tube and which form a part of the electric circuits shown in Fig. 12.

Movement of the cam arm |38 tips the mercury switch and causes the globule of mercury to close or open the space bet-Ween the contacts and thereby close or open the switch. It is this switch which prevents the establishment of a circuit when the upper contact |2| of the switch H5 is rst engaged by the movable contact 8 while the pawl |23 is being held away from the shoulder of the indicator arm notch |21. It is only when mercury switch |45 is clos-ed that a circuit is established through the main control switch ||5 and this permits the closing of the circuit only after all of the pawl and indicator movements just described have been fully completed. This will now be .fully explained.

Considering rst that condition of the machine wherein the sterilizing temperature oi the milk falls slightly below the predetermined set tem.- perature the circuit which is established through the maincontrol switch ||5 results in a flow of electric energy through the motor C causing the motor to operate in a direction of rotation which will open the steamregulator valve B. It will be recalled that for this temperature condition the galvanometer needle is deflected into alignment with the low step .of the detector plate 88 and is engaged thereby when the latter is moved up to set the indicator arm 99.

In this position of the indicator arm which is o' illustrated in Fig. 8 the restricted movement of `the released pawl |23 held by the indicator arm .is not sufcientv to break the engagement between the movablercontact HB and the upper fixed contact |2| of the switch H. Thus closing of the' mercury switch |45, which it will be recalled is simultaneous with the movement of A it will be observed that electric energy is supplied from any'suitable source of poweras for example a generator |5|. Energy for the power or motor circuitis taken direct from the generator whereas energy for the control circuits is taken from a step downj transformer |52 which is connected by wires |53, |54 to opposite terminals of the generator.

With the contacts |2|, H8 of the switch ||5 and the mercury switch |45 all closed, electric current from the transformer |52 flows through a circuit comprising a main lead wire |62, wire |63, double pole relay |64, wire |65, contacts |2|, ||8 of switch ||5, wire |66, mercury switch |45, wire |51, a time relay switch |68, wire |59 and thence back to the transformer along a return =This current flowing through the circuit energizes the relay |64 and thus causes its double pole contacts to close against a pair of switch points |13, |14. Closing of the relay immediately establishes the power or motor circuit through which current flows from the generator I5! by way. of wires |15, |16, switch point |13, wires |11, |18, through the motor C and returning tol the generator along wires |15, 8| switch point sterilizing temperature by slightly increasing the pressure and hence the temperature of the steam entering the sterilizing chamber.

When the motor has made one complete revo-l lution it is automatically stopped. This is effected by the cam projection 63 (see alsov Fig. 1). The cam projection engages against the movable element of a stop switch |88 to momentarily close the latter. Closing of this switch estab--v lishes a time relay circuit which includes the time relay switch |68 and which receives its current from the transformer |52. Current flows from the transformer through the circuit along the wire |62, through a solenoid |89 associated with the time relay, a wire |9|, switch |88 and returns by way of the wire |1|. f

Momentary energization of the solenoid |89 opens the time relay switch |68 and thereby breaks the main control circuit. This action deenergizes the relay |64 which breaks the motor circuit and thus stops the motor. e

A dash pot |93 is connected with the time relay switch |68 and when the latterV is opened the dash pot acts to prevent immediate closing of the switch to permit the change in the steam pressure caused by the partial opening of the regulator valve to become fully effective in the chamber before another adjustment is made. The switch closes slowly and is only fully closed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed,v It has been found that thirty seconds time lapse is sufficient for most efhcient operation of the mechanism. While the time relay is open the motor cannot be operated.

When under load of openingy or closing the regulator valve the motor in stopping may stop short, unless provision is made to prevent this, so that the cam 63 on the motor shaft will not have suicient time to clear the switch |88 and permit it to open. If this is allowed to take place the switch |88 would be held closed and the time relay solenoid |89 would be maintained energized and thereby would hold the time relay switch |68 open so that the mechanism would become disabled. To prevent such an occurrence provision is made in the instant case for current to be drawn from the main circuit to keep the motor circuit intact and` hence keep the motor in operation until the cam is clear of this switch.

Operation of the motor is momentarily maintained for this purpose by the cam projection 64 (see also Fig. 1) which closes a stop switch |96 of the control circuit simultaneously with the closing of the stop switch |88. While switch |96 is closed current flows from the wire |81 of the main circuit, along a wire |91, through the switch |96, a wire |98, wires |69, |1| to the transformer. Thus the main circuit is held intact and the motor continues to operate until the cam projection 63 has moved past the switch |88 and has permitted the latter to open; When both stop switches |88, |96 are open the motor" stops.

After the time period has elapsed and the time relay switch |68 has fully closed, the next detection of the galvanometer needle deection, as effected mechanically by the detector plate 88 and its associated parts, may disclose that the chamber temperature is still below the desired predetermined degree and that therefore the steam regulator valve should be further opened. In `this case the above described cirvcuitsare reestablished to cause another coniplete revolution of the motor C in the same direction. z i

If the temperature hasvreturned to the desired predetermineddegree, the galvanometer needle 19v Willswing into its normal centralized position where it is in alignment with the middle step oi, the detector plate 88. When the step is moved into i engagement with the needle as shown in Fig. 2-fthe indicator arm 99 will be brought to rest `in a position as shown in Fig. 1. Movement ol' the selector .pawl |23 will then be such as to locate the movable contact point ||8 of the switch centrally between the switch contacts |2|, |22, not engaging either of them. Thus when the mercury switch |45 closes, no circuits willfbe established hence no adjustment of the regulatorvalve B willjoe eiected and' the steam pressure inthe` sterilizing chamber 4will remain unaltered. l

' chamber. lUnder this temperature condition the galvanometer needle 19 is in alignment with the high step of thedetector plate 88. Hence when the 'plate is lifted the high step will engage the needle as shown in Fig. 6 and the indicator arm S19-will be stopped in a position as shown in Fig. 9.u This position of the indicator arm permits the greatest travel of the pawl |28 which now carries the movable'switch contact ||8 intov engage- I nent withthe lower contact |22 of the switch ||5.

Againy referring yto the wiring diagram in Fig. 12 with the switch contacts I |8, |22 and the mercury switch |45 closed, electric energy now ows from the transformer |52 along wire |62, a wire 20|, double pole relay 202, wire 203, switch contacts YH8, |22, wire |66, mercury. switch |45, wire |61, time relay switch |68, wires |69, |1|, back tothe transformer.;

The relay 202 islthus energized and its double pole contacts close against a pair of switch points' 205, 20,6 which establishes the motor circuit in the reverse or valve closingv direction. Current then ows from the generator |5| along wire |15, a wire 208, switch point 205, wires zus, nspthrough the motor. c and returns. to

the generator along wires |18, 2| I, switch point 206,y and wires 2|2, |83. Thus electricvenergy is supplied to the motor in a reverse direction which causes it to rotate in reverse and to partially close the regulator valve B. Stopping of the motor is effected by the cam projections 63,

64 in the same'` manner as hereinbeiore described.

vtwo or three seconds and the operation of the moter'and steam regulator valve preferably every thirty seconds so that any time within two or three seconds after the motor` time relay has closed, the motorlmay again be operated'to cor' rect any small change in sterilizing temperature.V

I n this manner v continuous operation'and regulation is had over the sterilizing temperature while at the lsame time allowing for changes ln-th steam pressure to become effective.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it Wil-lbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material radvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1. A temperatureA control mechanism for maintaining a substantiallyconstanttemperature in heat treating machines, comprising in combination means for supplying heat to a machine,a heat regulator through which the heat is lsupplied, electric means connected with suitable electric circuits for adjusting said heat regulator, thermo-electric instrumentalities for gauging a change of tem-perature in the machine, means cooperating with and controlled by said instrumentalities and comprising a galvanometer needle and stepped detector elements selectively engageable with the same for establishing said electric circuits in accordance With the changing temperature of the machine, and means cooper--y ating with said electric circuits for maintaining said electric means inoperative for a predetermined period of time after an adjustment of said heat regulator to permit said adjustment tobecome effective.

2. A temperature control mechanism for maintaining a substantially constant temperaturein heat treating machines, comprising in combination means for supplying heat to a machine, a heat regulator through which the heat is supplied, electric means connected with suitable electric circuits for operating Asaid heat regulator, thermo-electric instrumentalities for gauging a change of temperature in' the machine, means constantly cooperating with and controlled by said thermo-electric instrumentalities andy comprising a galvanometer needle and stepped detector elements` selectively engageablewith the same for establishing said electric circuits to cause operationv of saidl electric means in accordancewith the changing temperature in the machine, a time relay cooperating with said ielectric circuits for maintaining said electric means inoperative for a-predetermined period of time after anadjustment of said heat regulator to permit said adjustment to become eiective, and devices in said circuits and operable by said electric means for insuringlproper functioning of said timev relay. f 3. A temperature control mechanism lfor maintaining a substantially constant temperaturel in heat treating machines, comprising in combination means vfor'supplying heat to ay machine, "a heat regulating valve, a reversible electric motor connected with suitable electric circuits foropening and closing said valve, ya pyrometer and agalvanometer in rcircuit for detecting temperature changes as they occur' in the machine, said galvanometer carrying a needle adapted to be deflected by the operationY `of said pyrometena detectormember including a plurality of'stepped needleengaging faces pivotally mounted to swing at right angles to the path of movement of said needle for detecting and indicating saidneedle deflections, meansv controlledY byr said detector; member for establishing said motor circuitsF for actuating said electric motorso as to adjust said valve in accordancev` with the deflections' of` saidA galvanometerneedle toA maintain the tempera# turein the machine substantially constant, and means cooperating with saidelectric circuits for maintaining said reversible electric motor inoperative for a predetermined period of time to permit disengagement of said 'galvanometer needle With said detector member.

4. A temperature control mechanism forv main taininga substantially constant sterilizing temperature in the sterilizingchamber of a` milk sterilizi'ng and lling machine, comprising vin combination devices for charging milk into and for discharging it from'said chamber, means for heating the milk to a sterilizing temperature while in said chamber, a heat regulator, instrumentalities for gauging a change of temperature in the milk, control devices including a galvanometer needle and a stepped detector member engaging the same for cooperating with said invstrumentalities for adjusting said heat regulator taining a substantially constant sterilizing temperature in a milk sterilizing and lling machine, comprising in combination a milk sterilizing chamber, devices for charging milk into and discharging it from said chamber, means for heating the milk to a sterilizing temperature While'in said chamber, a heat regulating valve, electric means connecting with suitable electric circuits galvanometer needle for detecting and indicating a deflected position of the latter, means controlled by said members for establishing said electric circuits to cause said electric means to adjust said regulating 'valve ,in order to compensate for a temperature change as indicated by the position of said galvanometer needle, and means cooperating with said electric circuits for maintaining said electric means inoperativeuntil after disengagement of said galvanometer needle With said detector member.

6. In a temperature control mechanism for maintaining a substantially constant sterilizing. temperature in a milk sterilizing and lling ma-l chine having a discharge unit for iilling sterilized milk into containers: the .combination of a milk sterilizing chamber, devices for charging milk into said chamber, means for heating the milk to a sterilizing temperature While in said chamber, a heat regulator, instrumentalities for gauging a change of temperature in 'the milk, means cooperating with said instrumentalities and comi prising a galvanometer needle and stepped detector elements selectively engageable With the same for adjusting said heat regulator to main,- tain the milk ata substantially constant sterilizing temperature, and means cooperating with said gauging instrumentalities for maintaining said heat regulator adjusting means inoperative for a predetermined period of time to permit said change in temperature of the milkto be ascertained.

7. A temperature control mechanism for maintaining a desired temperature in heat treating machines, comprising in combination means for supplying heat to a machine, a heat regulator through which the heat is supplied, electric means connected with suitable electric circuits for adjusting said heat regulator, thermo-electric instrumentalities for gauging a change of temperature in the machine and for translating it into a mechanical movement, members for detecting said mechanical movement, an indicator movable by said members into a position which indicates the magnitude and direction of said detected movement, constantly movable elements controlled by the position of said indicator and comprising high, loW and intermediate steps for establishing said electric circuits to cause operation of said electric means in accordance with the temperature changes in the machine, and means including a cam actuated latch 'device cooperating with said thermo-electric instrumentallties for temporarily maintaining said electric means inoperative to permit said translated mechanical movement to become eiective.

8. A temperature control mechanism for maintaining a substantially constant temperature in heat treating machines, comprising in combination, means for supplying heat to a machine, a heat regulator through Which the heat is supplied, thermo-electric instrumentalities for gauging a change of temperature in the machinei/and for translating said change into a mechanical movement, means vincluding a swinging member for detecting the magnitude and direction of said mechanical movement, said member being brought into a position to correspond with a setting for said change of temperature, elements cooperating with said detecting means for adjusting said heat regulator, and cam controlled means for delaying the operation of said adjusting elements by movement determined in accordance with the setting of said swinging member to temporarily render said adjusting elements inoperative to permit said translated mechanical movement to become eiective.

' JOHN H. MURCH. WILLIAM PECHY. 

